Norwalk man arrested after trying to carjack police officer

NORWALK — A 20-year-old man was arrested Saturday for allegedly attempting to carjack an off-duty South Gate police officer at gunpoint in Norwalk, sheriff's officials said.

The attempted carjacking occurred around 4 a.m. at the intersection of Norwalk Boulevard and Cyclops Street, according to officials at the Norwalk sheriff's station.

Officials said the officer slowed his private vehicle when two Hispanic men stepped out into the lane he was traveling in, and one pointed a handgun directly at the officer.

The off-duty officer quickly drove around the two men and called 9-1-1 for help, officials said.

Sheriff's deputies rushed to the scene and saw three males running east on Cyclops Street. The area was searched and one suspect, identified as Nicholas Andres of Norwalk, was found behind a home in the 12200 block of Cyclops Street. He was arrested without incident.

The off-duty officer identified Andres as the suspect who had pointed the firearm at him, and search dogs discovered a pistol in the area, officials said.

No other suspects were located.

Andres was booked at the Norwalk Station for assault with a deadly weapon. He was held on $50,000 bail.